Safety cigarette holder



SAFETY CIGARETTE HOLDER Filed Jan. 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor a Jul y 1937- J. MILLS 2,079,520

SAFETY CIGARETTE HOLDER Filed Jan. 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor ria mes N: (is

zm QM sud g m Attorney! Patented May 4, 1937 YATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY CIGARETTE HOLDER James Mills, Arcola, N.

0., assignor of one-half 2 Claims.

My invention relates generally to means for holding a cigarette whereby the cigarette may be smoked without dropping ashes or sparks therefrom, and may be placed safely in the pocket while ignited, the same means including arrangements whereby the ignited cigarette may be extinguished as when carrying the same in the pocket, and an important object of the invention is to provide a simple and easily manufactured device of the character indicated.

Another important object of the invention is to provide means of the character indicated above which is mechanically eflicient and may be produced at relatively low cost, and which is not subject to readily getting out of, order.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the outer casing rotated to expose the longitudinal side vents.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the cigarette holding assembly per se.

Figure 4 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken through Figure 3 and showing in dotted lines one of the cigarette holding elements in its open position.

Figure 5 is a general longitudinal sectional view taken through Figure 1 approximately on the line 5-5 and looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows and showing in dotted lines an open position of the cap.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view taken from left to right based on Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure l on the line 'l1.

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the cigarette holding assembly taken from left to right in Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the cigarette holding elements.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates the mouthpiece of the holder which is a generally cylindrical body tapering to the bit 6 and having a reduced portion 1 at its opposite end defining the shoulder or flange 8, and having to the left of the reduced portion 1 the further reduced semi-annular hinged block 14. The holder bit or stem 5 has an axial small bore II] which opens through the right hand end thereof as indicated in Figure 5 and opens at. its left end into the cigarette end receiving enlarged bore or socket H which is provided at its inner end with a screen 12.

Partly surrounding the reduced portion on the stem or bit is the semi-annular clip I3 which overlies the hinged block 14 which is hinged as indicated at 9 to the stem, and the said block is of semi-circular form as indicated in Figure 8 and constitutes the second reduced portion of the bit already referred to and contains a portion of the bore or chamber II also already referred to. The spring clip l3 lies along the hinged reduced portion and has its opposite ends adjacent the shoulders defined by the unreduced portion I with the reduced portion as clearly shown in Figure 8. The natural resiliency of the material of the clip serves to retain the same in position. The purpose of the clip is to resist opening swinging movement of the block I4 indicated in 20 dotted lin s in Figure 4 and to hold the block in closed position normally.

The block M has set thereinto the prongs I6 of the legs l5 of the upper cigarette holding element which is generally designated ll and which is U-formed in shape and has the downi turned retainer portion l8. The upset portions l9 adjacent the prongs l6 are set in conforming formations of the bore II in the block I l so that the inner sides of the legs 15 lie in planes in extension of the side of the bore l I. Another cigarette holding element 20 similar in form to the cigarette holding element I1 is reversed in position and opposed to the element IT and fastened in the manner indicated in the lower part of the reduced portion 1 of the stem or bit as clearly shown in Figure 4. A cigarette is placed in the device of the invention by lifting the holding element ll to the dotted line position shown in Figure 4 and then inserting the cigarette into cylinder generally designated 2| which is composed of the solid or imperforate annulus 22, the reticulated intermediate portion 23 and the outer end solid or imperforate portion 24. The solid portions 22 and 24 are connected by a cylindrical wall 25 whch is provided at circumferentially spaced intervals with longitudinal slots 26 extending between the annuli 22 and 24. The

portion of the cylinder 2! which is to the left of I the shoulder 21 in Figure 5 is reduced in exterior diameter relative to the annulus 22 and on this reduced portion is rotatably mounted the outer shell which is generally designated 28 and which is composed of a cylinder provided with longitudinal slots 29 of the same size and general disposition as the slots 26 in the cylinder 2| and in a position to register partially or completely with the slots 26.

The left hand end of the outer cylinder 28 is provided with a hinged cap which is generally designated 3|] and is hinged thereto as indicated by the numeral 3| and has circumferentially spaced segmental screened openings 32 therein which can be closed by means of the rotatable apertured plate 33 having therein similar segmental openings 34 and being pivoted as indicated at 35 to the cap 30. A screen 39 is mounted in the cap 36 behind the openings 32. A retainer spring 36 is provided on the open side of the cap for engaging the exterior of the cylinder 28 to hold the cap in closed position.

For retaining the outer cylinder 28 on the inner cylinder, while permitting a certain amount of rotation of the outer cylinder relative to the inner cylinder to procure partial or complete registration or non-registration of the respective slots 26 and 29, the outer cylinder is provided at its right hand end with an elongated bayonet slot 3! which opens through the rear end of the outer cylinder for the purpose of engaging the boss 38 or bayonet which is on the left hand end of the reduced portion of the annulus 22 adjacent the point 2? already referred to. By means of this arrangement, the outer cylinder may be rotated sufficiently for the purposes stated with- 40 out disengaging the same from the inner cylinder,

and may be still further rotated in one direction to disengage the same from the inner cylinder. By means of the arrangements pointed out in connection with the structure, a cigarette having 1 been placed in the holder assembly, the end the size of the openings 32.

For a generally similar purpose, the size of the slots 26 in the inner cylinder may be varied by bringing the outer cylinder into different positions of rotation. Either the elongated slots in the inner and outer cylinders may be completely closed and the draft plate 33 completely closed when a half smoked cigarette is in an ignited condition, so as to completely enclose the cigarette for carrying the same in the pocket and for quickly extinguishing the same. A half smoked unlit cigarette may be relighted by passing a flame through the slots 26 and 29 after suitable opening thereof.

It, of course, will be obvious when the cap and the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are fully closed by bringing the various openings out of registration, the cigarette is completely enclosed and air is prevented from reaching the same, so that the cigarette may be safely carried in the pocket or elsewhere. It is also obvious that the various screens prevent sparks and ashes from getting out of the device of the invention and causing fires or making dirt or flying in the eyes of others. It is also obvious that the small screen l2 in the bore of the mouthpiece prevents backing up of ashes or particles of tobacco into the bore ID of the stem.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and

any change or changes may be made in the materials, and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of'the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety cigarette holder of the character described comprising a cigarette holding assembly including a mouthpiece having a recess for receiving one end of a cigarette, a hinged block forming part of the wall of the recess for clamping the cigarette in the recess, a clip releasably securing the block in clamping position, cigarette supporting means projecting from the holder adjacent the recess, an inner reticulated cylinder surrounding and engaged with a, portion of the mouthpiece, an outer perforated cylinder mounted around and rotatable relative to the inner cylinder, openings in each of said cylinders registrable with each other for controlling the access of air into the interior cylinder said outer cylinder overlying said clip to secure the same in position on the block.

2. A cigarette holder comprising a mouthpiece having a socket for receiving one end of a cigarette, a hinged block forming part of the wall of the recess for clamping the cigarette in the socket, a clip releasably securing the block in clamping position, a plurality of cigarettesupporting members projecting from the holder adjacent the socket and cooperating to support the cigarette, one of said members being secured to a stationary part of the holder and another of said members being secured to said block for movement therewith to release the cigarette, an inner reticulated cylinder removably attached to the mouthpiece and overlying said clip to secure the same in position on the block and an outer perforated cylinder mounted around and rotatable relative to said inner cylinder, each of said cylinders having registerable openings for controlling the passage of air into the interior of said cylinders.

JAMES MILLS. 

